Hundreds attend NE Pa. hearing on gas drilling

HONESDALE, Pa. (AP) — Several hundred people turned out Tuesday for the first of two hearings in northeastern Pennsylvania about gas drilling along the Delaware River and its tributaries.

The Delaware River Basin Commission, an interstate agency that regulates the watershed, is taking comment on proposed regulations that would require installation of ground and surface water monitors and keep well sites 500 feet from wetlands, bodies of water, surface water supply intake and water supply reservoirs.

The panel says 15,000 to 18,000 wells could be drilled over the next three decades in New York and Pennsylvania areas of the watershed.

Of the first 45 or so people to speak at an afternoon hearing in Honesdale in Wayne County, only five opposed drilling. Supporters said the regulations are cumbersome, have not balanced economic concerns with environmental ones and take away the rights of private property owners.

"We all support natural gas that is done in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner," Ned Lang of Narrowsburg, N.Y. said. "It's done throughout the rest of the country, so let's do it here and let's do it now."

Bradford County commissioner Doug McLinko said things are going well with the drilling in his area.

"We have about 1,500 wells permitted with just about 600 wells already drilled," McLinko said. "We have water impoundments with fresh water ponds that are lined, they're safe, we have water extractions on the rivers, on the Susquehanna and three creeks."

But WBNG-TV says opponents maintain that the threat of water contamination is too great and they don't believe the panel has enough information.

"To let the regulations go forward without a cumulative impact study, getting some of the fundamental questions about safety, makes no sense whatsoever," said Wes Gillingham of Youngsville, N.Y.

Tracy Carluccio of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network said drilling companies are looking to "run wild" in the region and accused the commission of "rushing up to meet them."

"These rules will not prevent catastrophic pollution events and they also will not prevent cumulative degradation you are supposed to prevent," she said. "We will not let you sacrifice our water for gas."

Drilling supporters have sporting neon yellow stickers saying "I support NG in the DRB." But some opponents have been wearing "No fracking way" pins and carrying small signs that say "Do no harm."

The commission will be taking public comment on the issue until March 16.